Rail-joint.



No. 696,729. Patented Apr". I, |902.

v A. ELSENRATH.

BAIL JOINT.

Iicntio UNITED STATES ATENT y OEEICE.

ANDREW ELSENRA'll-I, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFECATIQN forming' part of Letters Patent No. 696,729, dated April 1, 1902. Application led January 21, 1902. Serial No. 901675. (No model.)

To tu whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW ELSENRATH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rail-joints, and re lates more particularly to that class which are fastened without the use of nutsand bolts.

The invention has for its object the provision of novel means whereby the rails may be allowed to expand and contract, which is caused by the differences in the temperature; furthermore, to provide a railjoint of the above-described character that may be easily attached and detached when desired.

My present invention further contemplates to provide a rail-joint that will be extremely simple in construction, strong, durable, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and highly efficient in its use.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, to be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompany drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of the rails provided with my improved joint. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the meeting end of one of the rails. Fig. 3 is a like View of the joint. Fig. 4 is an end view thereof.

In the drawings the reference-numeral l represents the cross-tie, 2 the rails, said rails being out away, as shown at 3, near their meeting ends. VVThe jointfl is composed of the iish-plate 5, having notches 6 formed therein, and a saddle 7 formed integral therewith.

Said saddle 7 carries a downwardly-extending support 8, which rests upon the cross-tie. The spikes 9 serve to fasten the rail-joint to the cross-tie. It will be noted that the fishplate 5 is secured on the outer side of the rails and the flan ge of the wheels travel against the inner face. Furthermore, pressure is always outwardly against the fish-plate, which fishplate extends upwardly to a point ilush with the upper face of the tread, thereby giving strength and durabilityto the joint that could not otherwise be obtained.

The many advantages obtained by the use of my improved device will be readily apparent from the foregoing description, taken inconnection withthe accompanying drawings.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails, having their treads cut away near their meeting ends, a saddle straddling said webs, an integral fish-plate extending upwardly iiush with the upper face of the tread of said rails, and cross-ties, and means to fasten said integral fish-plate to said cross-ties and rails, substantially as described.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination of the ties, rails having a portion of their tread cut away, a fish-plate extending to the upper face of said rails, a saddle formed integral therewith forming the chair in said cut-away portions, and a downwardly extending base formed integral with said saddle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW ELSENRATH.

Witnesses:

JOHN NOLAND, E. E. POTTER. 

